RUNX1 marks a luminal castration-resistant lineage established at the onset of prostate development

R Mevel, I Steiner, S Mason, LCA Galbraith, R Patel… - Elife, 2020 - elifesciences.org
R Mevel, I Steiner, S Mason, LCA Galbraith, R Patel, MZH Fadlullah, I Ahmad, HY Leung…
Elife, 2020elifesciences.org
The characterization of prostate epithelial hierarchy and lineage heterogeneity is critical to
understand its regenerative properties and malignancies. Here, we report that the
transcription factor RUNX1 marks a specific subpopulation of proximal luminal cells (PLCs),
enriched in the periurethral region of the developing and adult mouse prostate, and distinct
from the previously identified NKX3. 1+ luminal castration-resistant cells. Using scRNA-seq
profiling and genetic lineage tracing, we show that RUNX1+ PLCs are unaffected by …
The characterization of prostate epithelial hierarchy and lineage heterogeneity is critical to understand its regenerative properties and malignancies. Here, we report that the transcription factor RUNX1 marks a specific subpopulation of proximal luminal cells (PLCs), enriched in the periurethral region of the developing and adult mouse prostate, and distinct from the previously identified NKX3.1+ luminal castration-resistant cells. Using scRNA-seq profiling and genetic lineage tracing, we show that RUNX1+ PLCs are unaffected by androgen deprivation, and do not contribute to the regeneration of the distal luminal compartments. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a transcriptionally similar RUNX1+ population emerges at the onset of embryonic prostate specification to populate the proximal region of the ducts. Collectively, our results reveal that RUNX1+ PLCs is an intrinsic castration-resistant and self-sustained lineage that emerges early during prostate development and provide new insights into the lineage relationships of the prostate epithelium.
eLife